Industrial engineering calculator

Manpower Requirement Calculator

Calculate how many operators a line needs to meet a daily target from garment SMV, working hours, planned efficiency and an absenteeism buffer.

Inputs

pcs
min
h
%
%

Result

Operators to plan

41persons

Exact requirement (present)
38.46
With absenteeism buffer
40.49
Working
  1. Work content = 1,000 × 12 = 12,000 min
  2. Minutes per operator = 480 × 65% = 312
  3. Operators present = 12,000 / 312 = 38.46
  4. With 5% absenteeism = 38.46 / 0.95 = 40.49 -> 41

Formula

Formula
M=Q×SMVT×η×11−aM = \dfrac{Q \times \text{SMV}}{T \times \eta} \times \dfrac{1}{1 - a}

Operators = target × SMV / (working minutes × efficiency) / (1 - absenteeism)

SymbolMeaningUnit
QDaily targetpcs
TWorking minutes per daymin
ηPlanned efficiency-
aAbsenteeism as a fraction-

How the calculator works#

Work content = daily target × SMV. Minutes per operator = working minutes × efficiency. Operators present needed = work content / minutes per operator. With an absenteeism buffer, the planned number = present needed / (1 - absenteeism), rounded up.

Worked example#

Defaults: target 1,000 per day, SMV 12.0, 8 hours, 65% efficiency, 5% absenteeism.

  • Work content = 1,000 × 12 = 12,000 min
  • Minutes per operator = 480 × 0.65 = 312
  • Operators present = 12,000 / 312 = 38.46
  • With 5% absenteeism = 38.46 / 0.95 = 40.49, rounded up to 41 operators

Interpreting the result#

Use the result to size a line for a new order, then check the machine mix with the machine requirement calculator. If you cannot staff the line, calculate the achievable target with the production target calculator.

Assumptions

  • The result covers direct operators. Helpers, ironmen and quality staff are planned separately unless included in your SMV.

Common errors

  • Rounding down: always round operator numbers up.
  • Adding absenteeism by simple addition (×1.05) instead of dividing by (1 - 0.05). The difference grows as absenteeism rises.

Questions

Why add an absenteeism buffer?

If a line is staffed for exactly the people needed, every absence reduces output. The buffer plans extra people so the expected number present meets the requirement.

Does the result include helpers?

It includes everyone who carries a share of the garment SMV. If your SMV excludes helper work, plan helpers separately.

Related formulas

Guides for this calculation

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